Voters head to the polls

June 8, 2017 at 10:12 am

There has been a steady stream of voters at the St Magnus Centre polling station in Kirkwall this morning.

Voters in Orkney head to the polls today to decide who will represent them as their Member of Parliament in Westminster.

Polls opened across the county today at 7am and will close at 10pm tonight, with the count to be held at Kirkwall Grammar School, due to take place soon after.

A result for the Orkney and Shetland constituency is expected before breakfast time tomorrow, Friday.

At the last General Election, on May 7, 2015, Alistair Carmichael held his seat, but the SNP’s Danus Skene made significant inroads into an area that has traditionally been a stronghold for the Liberal Democrats.

Many predict a similar two-horse race this time round, with Mr Carmichael facing a challenge from first-time SNP candidate Miriam Brett.

Meanwhile, Labour’s Robina Rendall Barton, and Conservative Jamie Halcro Johnston, will hope for an increased share of the vote for their parties, as will Robert Smith, representing UKIP.

Also standing is independent candidate Stuart Hill who has argued for Northern Isles independence throughout the campaign.